Democracy, Constitution and the Government

“For the people, by the people, of the people”

Abraham Lincoln used these words to describe democracy. While the foundations of democracy were laid by the Greeks way back in 507 B.C., it is only now that the world has, in large parts, organised itself in the form of democracies.

In this segment, participants start by thinking about their rights and duties as democratic citizens, and the different ways in which the government touches their everyday lives. They learn about the emergence of modern nation states and the evolution of the concept of individual rights. Participants also trace the history of these rights to understand how they have become the cornerstone of many constitutions around the world. They learn about the main features of the Indian Constitution, the powers and responsibilities of the three pillars of democracy (executive, legislature and judiciary) as well as the tiers of government (centre, state and municipal).